Happy Memories

Optimists not only look on the bright side, but they also look out for—and remember—information that applies to them. In a study led by Andrea E. Abele, a psychologist at the University of Erlangen in Germany, 83 people watched as 18 health-related statements flashed on a screen. Afterward, not surprisingly, regular exercisers recalled more exercise-related information than did those who were not as active—but exercisers who scored high on optimism outdid all the others. This tendency may be one reason why optimists tend to experience relatively high levels of success, the psychologists say: They naturally tune in to information that is relevant to their pursuits, which in turn supports them in achieving their goals.